Clint Eastwood and Harrison Ford in talks for 'The Expendables 3'

And Nicolas Cage has already signed up for the third movie in the retro action franchise

PA

Photo: PA

Clint Eastwood and Harrison Ford are in talks to appear in The Expendables 3, producer Avi Lerner has revealed.

Lerner also confirmed that Nicolas Cage will star in the third movie in the action franchise, while Mickey Rourke is in discussions to reprise his role from the first film. Meanwhile, Lerner is lining up a part for Wesley Snipes, who is currently serving a three-year prison sentence for failing to file income tax returns.

Created by Sylvester Stallone, The Expendables is an ensemble action comedy teaming Stallone with a raft of 1980s action heroes, including Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jet Li and Dolph Lundgren. The film became an unexpected hit at the box office in 2010, grossing more than $274 million (£174 million) worldwide.

The Expendables 2, which reunites the original cast and adds Jean-Claude Van Damme to the muscle-bound mix, is scheduled to open in cinemas in the UK and US on Friday (August 17) - scroll down to watch the trailer.

However, Lerner is already hatching plans for a third Expendables movie. Discussing casting with Total Film, he revealed: "We've approached Clint Eastwood to be one of the guys, we've got a character in mind for him. We're talking to Harrison Ford. [And we want] Wesley Snipes when he comes back from prison. I'll give you one more name, we've got Nicolas Cage to play [one of the characters]."

Lerner also confirmed that The Expendables 3 will include roles for each of the past and present cast members. He added: "And we're going to bring Mickey Rourke back, if he won't be too crazy. I like Mickey. And of course, all the existing stars [will return]."